HIV Likely Spread To Humans Who Ate Chimps And Gorillas HIV, and subsequently AIDS, is still one of the most feared viruses in society. Despite advances in medicine and treatment options, no direct cure exists. The origin of the virus has been a source of rumors and speculation for a long time, but contrary to what some might believe, we have a lot of evidence to inform us of its origin. First it’s important to know that there are two types of HIV (HIV 1 and HIV 2) and four main groups of viral strains - M, N, O, and P. HIV 1 with strain M is the most common type of HIV infection in the world today. Strains M and N have been traced back to chimpanzees in southern Cameroon. Scientists weren't sure where strains O and P came from until a few years ago when they were traced to western lowland gorillas in the same region of Cameroon. While there are many theories out there, the one we have most scientific evidence for is the transmission via bushmeat. Bushmeat refers to animals who are native to remote areas of the world, including but not limited to Africa and South America. Historically, the growing encroachment of humans into remote natural environments has resulted in higher instances of people in direct contact with wild animals. Virologist Martine Peeters from the University of Montpellier in France surmised, "The mode of transmission is most likely exposure to infected blood and/or tissues during hunting and butchering for bushmeat." To date, bushmeat is still consumed in various areas around the world. Cultures From Around The World And Across History Have Practiced Human Sacrifice Faith has been a component of humanity nearly as long as human history itself. Cultures around the world and across time have practiced various rituals in order to appease their gods and/or beliefs. One of the most disconcerting of these practices has been human sacrifice. From ancient China to pre-Columbian native peoples who lived in what is now modern-day St. Louis, there was something that people felt human sacrifices could rectify. Skeletal remains of sacrifice victims have been found at archaeological sites on every continent except Antarctica. For our predecessors, it was a way of life. Human sacrifice spared no victim. Despite the image of the female virgin that comes to mind when speaking of human sacrifices, many others could be targets. This included male and female infants, children, and adult warriors. Though it may seem like a phenomenon of the past, as recently as 2015, the sacrificial slayings of people with albinism took place in Tanzania. From 2000-2015, evidence has been found of at least 75 albino people being murdered in ritual practices that use their body parts as good luck charms. 80% Of The Ocean Has Never Been Explored Since the dawn of civilization, the ocean has been a source of awe and fear. And despite technological advancements in various fields of science, most of it remains a mystery. The ocean covers nearly three-quarters of the planet yet around 80% remains unexplored and unmapped. We have better maps of Mars than we do of our ocean floor. There are areas so vast and so unexplored that we truly don't know what organisms are calling these places home. New species are still being discovered every time researchers are able to go down and explore an unknown region. The issue sadly isn't a lack of interest but rather a lack of funding - exploring the ocean is expensive and difficult. This lack of exploration keeps many scientists (and the rest of us) wondering what really lurks in the deepest crevices of our world. Humans Evolved To Crave Unhealthy Food For the most part, we all know too much sugar is not good for us. Combining that with very little to no physical activity can cause a myriad of health issues. But if we know it’s not good for us, why do we crave it? This question can be answered by looking back in time. In prehistoric times, when humans were in the dawn of civilization, food was not always easy to come by. People had to hunt and gather what they could to survive. If a season was too dry or too cold, the threat of extreme hunger was very real. As a result, when food was abundant - especially food that was high in fat or calories - humans ate as much as possible. Fructose in particular, which comes from table sugar, can activate processes in the body which allows humans to hold on to a higher concentration of fat. In times of food scarcity, hanging on to fat meant survival. From an evolutionary perspective, then, the people hooked on high sugar foods were more likely to survive, thus evolving our tastebuds to crave it. Nowadays, with the easy access most people have to high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar foods, this behavior makes less sense. Our taste buds and primal instincts, though, haven't evolved along with our diets. Today, 2.8 million die globally each year due to obesity-related risks. Giant Sea Scorpions Used To Roam The Oceans Eurypterids, AKA sea scorpions, are extinct, but they still leave a haunting image behind. They were a type of arthropod (animals with no backbone but with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed appendages) whose relatives are present-day scorpions, spiders, and ticks. Some grew to be more than 8 feet in length, could swim across open oceans, had serrated tails, great vision, and - worst of all - pinching claws that easily sliced into their prey. Fossils have been found throughout the world, indicating they weren’t location specific. Paleontologist Scott Persons described a bit of their behavior: "Our study suggests that sea scorpions used their tails, weaponized by their serrated spiny tips, to dispatch their prey." The Yale Peabody Museum currently holds the largest collection of eurypterids ever assembled. Sea scorpions disappeared during the Permian extinction, the worst mass extinction in the planet’s history. Pigeons Produce ‘Milk’ For Their Young While pigeons are often seen as a nuisance more than anything else, they've proven to be quite remarkable in their ability to adapt to human encroachment of the natural world. Another remarkable quality (and perhaps a bit of an uncomfortable one) is their ability to produce a milk-like substance to feed and strengthen their young. They are only one of three bird species to do so. Researchers have discovered that pigeons produce this substance in their crop - a muscular pouch located near the esophagus. The substance is filled with antioxidants and proteins to help their young develop their immune systems and grow stronger. This substance can be produced by both female and male pigeons and is only available during the "lactation" phase. This phase is regulated by hormones that are linked to a pigeon's young. Skittles Have An Additive That Can Damage DNA With their distinctive bright colors, fruity flavors, and colorful commercials, Skittles are a popular American candy. However, tasty as they are, some of their attributes have caused concern outside the US. In particular, Skittles contain a substance called titanium dioxide. Research suggests repeated consumption can lead to damaged DNA, which in turn has been linked to cancer. While these concerns continue to be researched, several countries have blocked importation of the candy, but due to the dyes used, rather than titanium dioxide. Both Sweden and Norway have banned Skittles outright, and it’s possible the European Union may follow suit. A Common American Bread Ingredient, Also Used In Yoga Mats, Is Banned In Europe Bread is one of the most ubiquitous foods in the US, with entire grocery store aisles devoted to this one product. Of course, bread isn’t just made from grain, and in the US at least, it also includes a variety of additives, typically to improve texture and color. Azodicarbonamide, for example, strengthens the dough and bleaches the flour. However, the additive has also been used in a wide spectrum of industrial contexts, including in the production of yoga mats. The European Union has thus banned its use in food products. US Pork Is Largely Banned Overseas Due To Concerns Over The Drug Ractopamine Pork, along with chicken and fish, remains a staple of the American diet. From bacon to ham, hot dogs to pork chops, people in the US consume a lot of it per year (67 pounds per capita, as of 2019). While Americans might love pork, they may be unaware of just how many chemicals and additives go into its production. One of the most notable is ractopamine, a drug used in many pork farms to increase pig growth. Despite its ubiquity in the US, 160 countries have banned the drug, deeming it unsafe for human consumption. This, in turn, has led to a prohibition of pork exports from the US. Mountain Dew’s Yellow Dye Can Cause Headaches And Hyperactivity Mountain Dew is another staple of Americans’ diets. As with so many other soft drinks, it's marketed to appeal to a younger crowd, encouraging them to embrace an active - and perhaps hyperactive - lifestyle. The soda's most notable attributes include its high caffeine content, its extreme amount of sugar, and, of course, its vibrant yellow color. The ingredient that provides this distinctive hue, tartrazine (known as Yellow 5), has a mixed reputation. It's linked to headaches and hyperactivity, and both Austria and Norway have moved to ban it entirely. Chlorine-Washed Poultry Is Deemed Unsafe In The UK And The EU In the US, it's common for chicken to be chlorinated during the preparation process. In essence, this practice is meant to kill the many types of bacteria that tend to cluster on freshly butchered meat. American food regulators believe this helps reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. However, the practice has raised concerns in the European Union, whose concern stems less from the health risks posed by the chlorine - which are relatively low - and more from the possibility that the process might be used to mitigate other unhealthy practices during the production process. As a result, most American chicken has been banned in Europe, although the US has pressured the UK to change regulations in this regard. Little Debbie Swiss Rolls Are Banned In Some Countries And Carry Warnings In Others Little Debbie has developed a reputation for providing consumers with a variety of tasty snack cakes. One of its most popular are Swiss Rolls, a mixture of cake and creamy filling. However, tempting as they are, they have earned quite a mixed reputation, particularly in Europe. Unsurprisingly, the problem arises from the inclusion of two dyes: Yellow 5 and Red 40. The European Union has grown increasingly concerned about the potential impact these dyes have on children, so they have to carry a warning. Both Austria and Norway, however, have banned them altogether. Restaurants In New Brunswick Can’t Serve Undercooked Food - So No Steak Tartare Although it is something of an acquired taste, steak tartare is a popular dish in the US. In fact, it is frequently associated with fine dining and appears at high-end restaurants throughout the country. However, its essential nature - being served raw - has led to its prohibition in some places. In the Canadian province of New Brunswick, restaurant owners received desist orders from health officials regarding steak tartare. Local health regulations dictate the minimum temperatures at which meat, including beef and poultry, must be cooked to be safe for consumption. Because consuming undercooked or raw foods can lead to an increased risk for food poisoning and/or parasitic infections, the officials were acting out of an abundance of caution. Denmark Says The Excessive Vitamins In Special K Could Be Toxic To Kids Cold cereal has long been a staple of the average American’s breakfast. From Corn Flakes to Wheaties, Trix to Golden Grahams, most people have, at one point or another, started the day with a bowl of cereal and milk. Many varieties are filled with sugar, and thus of dubious nutritional value. However, this hasn’t stopped a number of brands from using advertising to suggest they're better for the consumer than might actually be the case. While this might seem perfectly normal and acceptable to Americans, some European countries haven’t been nearly as sanguine. Even healthy cereals can be subject to skepticism. In Denmark, the vitamins and minerals in Special K are a source of trouble. Danish health regulators claim repeated consumption of the cereal can potentially be harmful to children. It was banned in 2004. You Can’t Get Coca-Cola In Cuba Or North Korea Few brands are as quintessentially American as Coca-Cola. With its slightly bitter flavor and its fizz, Coke has been a staple soft drink for several generations of American consumers. From its origins in the US in the late 19th century, it soon began to expand outward to Europe and Asia. During World War II, it received a tremendous boost when served to soldiers serving abroad. However, several countries have been less than welcoming, and the brand has become a symbol of the encroachment of American capitalism. Furthermore, it is outright prohibited in two countries: North Korea and Cuba. This lack of access stems from the trade embargoes the US has imposed on both nations. In a further bit of irony, Cuba was one of the first countries to bottle the beverage, back in 1906. Dragonflies have a 95% hunt success rate. Making them the most effective hunters in the world. Despite their small size, compared to other animals, dragonflies have evolved to be some of nature’s most efficient and effective predators. With over 3,000 species (of which over 400 can be found in North America) they are also very widespread. The insects have evolved a number of traits that help them - including speed, wings which can move independently of each other (enabling many maneuvers), enhanced vision, and significant neural function. As a result, they have about a 95% success rate in taking down prey (compared to, say, 25% for the average lion). 20% Of All Mammal Species Are Bats 20% of the mammal species on our planet are different types of bats.There are about 5,000 species of mammals, and about 1,000 of them are varieties of our little winged buddies. Though they are often quite small, bats actually make up a surprisingly large percentage of mammal species worldwide. Most scientists estimate they constitute around 20 to 25% of total species of mammal, though this number could change, since more species are being identified all the time. There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines Located in Southeast Asia, 500 miles from Vietnam, the Philippines is composed of approximately 7,640 separate islands and islets, of which approximately 2,000 are currently inhabited. Almost 50% Of Americans Have Been Exposed To Harmful Amounts Of Lead At least 50% of adults in the US are likely experiencing symptoms of lead exposure from their childhood. Which includes loss of IQ, increased phobias, addiction issues, and neuroticism. Makes the current state of things make a lot more sense. Given the ubiquity of lead pipes in many homes in the United States, it is unfortunately not surprising that a significant number of Americans have been exposed to this metal’s toxic influence. One study estimates as many as 170 million Americans - half the population - have been exposed. Continents move at the same rate that fingernails grow. Continents move, on average, a few centimeters a year, while the average fingernail grows at approximately the same rate. Sharks have existed for longer than the rings of Saturn (450 million years vs. around 100 million). Sharks have existed on this planet for longer than many other species, including dinosaurs and even grass. Most fascinatingly, sharks are also older than Saturn’s famous rings, which only developed somewhere between 10 and 100 million years ago (sharks have been around since at least 359 million years ago, emerging during the Devonian Period). Rabies Is Almost Always Fatal Rabies has a 99% mortality rate. You can go a year with it, no signs or anything, but when you start showing symptoms you're dead in a few hours. Few diseases have quite the fatality rate as rabies. Once exposed, it is absolutely vital for a person to be vaccinated immediately. In fact, pre- or post-bite vaccinations can prevent succumbing to the disease. Unfortunately, for a person who is not vaccinated, once they begin to show symptoms, rabies is functionally 100% fatal. The average drunk driver drives under the influence more than 80 times before they get caught. Drunk driving is an unfortunately common phenomenon in the United States, claiming almost 30 lives a day, according to some estimates. Even more distressingly, drunk driving can become habitual. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that a person may drive intoxicated 80 times before they are arrested. When tested by another agency, TSA failed to detect weapons, bombs, and other destructive materials 95% of the time. Few things cause travelers more angst and stress than going through TSA. Though its purpose is to keep bombs and other destructive devices from getting onto airplanes, an investigation by Homeland Security, using undercover agents trying to beat the system, determined the TSA fails to detect dangerous materials 95% of the time. Similar failings have occurred throughout TSA history, including in 2013.